Reorder assistance notification of near end-of-life consumables and method

ABSTRACT

A method of scheduling an event with respect to a hard copy output engine includes detecting a first status of a first portion of the hard copy output engine from a first sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine and detecting a second status of a second portion of the hard copy output engine from a second sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine. The method also includes composing an electronic message including the detected first and second status and transmitting the electronic message.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to printers and other hard copy output engines.More particularly, the invention relates to a consumables/printermanagement system providing indications of future needs in conjunctionwith indications of present needs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As computer systems and data communications systems have developed, thenumber and variety of hard copy output engines employed in a typicaloffice or factory setting has grown. Examples include photo copiers,facsimile machines, printers and devices including more than one ofthese capabilities. In turn, this has led to a need to be able to ordergreater amounts of consumable supplies, some of which are specific tospecific types of hard copy output engines.

As need for these types of hard copy output engines has grown, a numberof different manufacturers have developed different hard copy outputengines providing different operational characteristics andcapabilities. While some consumable commodities associated with thesedevices are common to most or all such devices (e.g., standardized papersizes), other consumable commodities, such as toners and toner supplycartridges or ink reservoirs, tend to be unique to a specificmanufacturer and may be unique to a specific product line from thatmanufacturer. Additionally, different hard copy output engines may havedifferent paper capacities, capabilities for accepting more or fewerpaper sizes and different toner or other pigment supply requirements andcapacities. Further, as hard copy output engines have been developed toprovide increasing capabilities, the number of different consumablesupplies utilized by the hard copy output engines has grown.

For example, hard copy output engines capable of processing jobsrequiring different paper sizes need to be stocked with more than onekind or size of paper. Additionally, color printers require multiplepigmentation sources, which may be multiple ink reservoirs for liquid orsolid inks, or may be multiple toners representing different primarycolors.

It is generally helpful to have a mechanism for scheduling and trackingorders of consumable commodities and/or service in keeping computersystems functional. For example, it is extremely helpful to ensure thatadequate supplies of replacement paper and toner or ink are availablewhen needed.

Coordination of orders for supplies can be very helpful to avoid over-orunder-stocking of these consumable commodities, while still achievingthe benefits of economies of scale by pooling orders to service multiplehard copy output engines, especially those using at least some of thesame consumable commodities. However, in many business settings, thesheer number of diverse hard copy output engines being used in differentaspects or divisions of the business may lead to confusion inmaintaining adequate supplies of these consumable commodities and inscheduling replacement of consumable commodities as well as schedulingpreventative maintenance.

What is needed is a way to facilitate scheduling replacement ofconsumable commodities, as well as scheduling preventative maintenance,for one or more hard copy output engines that are included in a network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method ofscheduling an event with respect to a hard copy output engine includesdetecting a first status of a first portion of the hard copy outputengine from a first sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engineand detecting a second status of a second portion of the hard copyoutput engine from a second sensor incorporated in the hard copy outputengine. The method also includes composing an electronic messageincluding the detected first and second status and transmitting theelectronic message.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an articleof manufacture includes a computer usable medium having computerreadable code embodied therein. The computer readable code is configuredto cause a processor to detect a first status of a first portion of thehard copy output engine from a first sensor incorporated in the hardcopy output engine and to detect a second status of a second portion ofthe hard copy output engine from a second sensor incorporated in thehard copy output engine. The computer readable code is also configuredto cause a processor to compose an electronic message including thedetected first and second status and transmit the electronic message.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, acomputer implemented control system for a hard copy output engineincludes a first sensor coupled to a first portion of the hard copyoutput engine. The first sensor is configured to provide a first statusof the first portion. The computer implemented control system alsoincludes a second sensor coupled to a second portion of the hard copyoutput engine. The second sensor is configured to provide a secondstatus of the second portion. The computer implemented control systemalso includes processing circuitry coupled to the first and secondsensors and configured to detect the first status and detect the secondstatus. The processing circuitry is further configured to compose anelectronic message including the detected first and second status andtransmit the electronic message.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detaileddescription, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network including acomputer and a hard copy output engine, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network includingmultiple hard copy output engines, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network 10 includinga computer 12 having a floppy disc drive 13. The network 10 alsoincludes a hard copy output engine 14, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. The hard copy output engine 14 includes acontroller 15, such as a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller.The hard copy output engine 14 also includes a memory 16 in datacommunication with the controller 15 and two or more sensors 17 coupledto the controller 15. The memory 16 is configured to embody computerreadable code for configuring the processor 15 to carry out variousoperations and may include an electrically alterable read only memory(EAROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), awrite-once, read-many memory (WORM), magnetic, magneto-optic or opticalstorage media, such as conventional disc storage or floppy disc datastorage units, or CD-ROMs or the like, and may include read/write memorysuch as DRAMs or SRAMs.

The computer 12 is coupled to the hard copy output engine 14 via a datapath such as a bus 20 allowing either the computer 12 or the hard copyoutput engine 14 to initiate data communications with the other. In oneembodiment, the hard copy output engine 14 is a device such as aprinter, copier, facsimile machine, or a multifunction device capable ofproviding two or more such functions. In one embodiment, the system 10is coupled to other external devices (not shown in FIG. 1) via the bus20.

In one embodiment, the bus 20 includes an intranet. In one embodiment,the bus 20 includes a local area network (LAN) or wide area network(WAN). In one embodiment, the bus 20 includes access to the Internet. Inone embodiment, the computer 12 and the hard copy output engine 14 arecapable of exchanging data via a protocol compatible with presence ofother computers 12 or hard copy output engines 14 on the bus 20. In oneembodiment, the computer 12 and the hard copy output engine 14 employ anobject-oriented request-reply protocol supporting asynchronous printerquery, control and monitor capabilities, and that is capable ofdocumenting the requests, replies and data types supported by theprotocol.

In one embodiment, the bus 20 provides common gateway interface (CGI)data communication capability. In one embodiment, the bus 20 includes anemail capability (e.g., simple mail transfer protocol or SMTP) forfacilitating data communication. In one embodiment, the bus 20 includesa secure data path using HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol) with SSL(secure sockets layer), as is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No.5,657,390, entitled “Secure Socket Layer Application Program ApparatusAnd Method”, issued to Elgamal et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,900,entitled “Secure Intranet Access” and issued to Subramanian et al.,which patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference for theirteachings.

The sensors 17 are coupled to consumable commodities associated with thehard copy output engine 14. In one embodiment, when the sensors 17report that a quantity of a consumable commodity (e.g., paper, toner orink) associated with the hard copy output engine 14 has decreased tobelow a predetermined threshold amount, or that malfunction of adispenser of a consumable commodity exists, the controller 15 initiatesa data communication ultimately intended for transmission via the datapath 20, as is described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.Alternatively or additionally, the sensors 17 may log hours of operationand/or loading (such as number of pages handled) in order to determinewhen preventive maintenance is appropriate, or may report othermalfunction of the hard copy output engine 14.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network or system 25including multiple hard copy output engines 14, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The network 25 of FIG. 2 includes alink 32, which may include a firewall 34, to other networks 36, whichmay be internal or external. The network 25 also may include printclients 40, such as Microsoft 42 and/or Unix 44, as well as others. Thenetwork 25 may further include print spoolers 46, such as NT 48, Unix 50and/or Netware 52, as well as others. The network 25 may also include aplurality of hard copy output engines 14, which may include printers aswell as a facsimile/copier 60.

In one embodiment, the print clients 40 and the print spoolers 46 arecoupled via the bus 20 to other data processing equipment (not shown),where the bus 20 is configured for data communication using HTTP,although other protocols may be used. In one embodiment, a differentprotocol, such as SNMP, is used, although other protocols may be used.

In general, it is desirable to obtain data directly from a hard copyoutput engine 14 because this does not require modification of thenetwork software.

In one embodiment, the link 32 comprises an intranet. In one embodiment,the link 32 accommodates HTTP for data communication.

Providing usage and status information relative to the print clients 40,the print spoolers 46 and the individual hard copy output engines 14 canpermit more effective and timely ordering of consumables andpreventative maintenance for the hard copy output engines 14.

FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process P1, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process P1begins in a query task S1.

In the query task S1, the processor 15 determines if anyconsumables/maintenance items warrant further action. In one embodiment,one of the sensors 17 of FIG. 1 detects that an amount of a consumablecommodity has fallen below a predetermined level.

In one embodiment, a “toner low” or “toner out” condition may bedetected. In one embodiment, the hard copy output engine 14 may havemultiple toner cartridges or other pigment supplies in order to be ableto provide color images.

In one embodiment, the sensor 17 may detect that preventativemaintenance needs to be scheduled. In one embodiment, the sensor 17 maydetermine that the hard copy output engine 14 is malfunctioning, andthat an appointment for a service technician needs to be scheduled.

In one embodiment, the sensor 17 detects an event such as toner out,toner low, preventative maintenance alerts, including cleaning orreplacement of component parts, consumables orders and low or “out of”status for other consumables or need for other maintenance items.

When the query task S1 fails to identify that anyconsumables/maintenance items warrant further action, control passes toa step S2.

In the step S2, the processor 15 sets a timer to wait for apredetermined interval. When the processor determines that thepredetermined interval has passed, the query task S1 is repeated.

When the query task S1 does identify any consumables/maintenance itemswarranting further action, control passes to a step S3.

In the step S3, the consumable/maintenance item that warrants attentionis added to a notification list. Control then passes to a query task S4.

In the query task S4, the processor 15 polls others of the sensors 17 todetermine if any other consumables/maintenance items are withinthreshold limits of requiring further action.

When the query task S4 determines that another of the sensors 17indicates that another consumable/maintenance item is within thresholdlimits of requiring further action, control passes to a step S5.

In the step S5, the another consumable/maintenance item identified inthe query task S4 as being within threshold limits of requiring furtheraction is added to the notification list that was begun in the step S3.Control then passes back to the query task S4.

When the query task S4 determines that no further consumable/maintenanceitems are within threshold limits, control passes to a step S6.

In the step S6, the notification list may be augmented with additionalinformation. This information may include data allowing identificationof the specific hard copy output engine 14 in which the conditionsrelating to the query task S1 were identified.

In the step S6, the notification list is incorporated into an electronicmessage, and the electronic message is transmitted. In one embodiment,the notification lists from several of the hard copy output engines 14of FIG. 2 may be “pooled” or included together in a single electronicmessage to further reduce handling and shipping requirements formaintaining the hard copy output engines 14 in good operable condition.In one embodiment, the electronic message is transmitted to a URL viathe Internet. In one embodiment, the electronic message is transmittedas an email.

In one embodiment, a program such as Microsoft Outlook or MicrosoftExchange, both available from Microsoft of Redmond, Wash., may be usedto send electronic messages via email, for example. The operation of theOutlook email product from Microsoft (Redmond, Wash.) is described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,125,369 filed on Oct. 27, 1997, entitled “Continuousobject synchronization between object stores on different computers” andissued to Charles Wu and George Hu, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,137,filed on Oct. 31, 1997, entitled “Method for updating and displaying thehierarchy of a data store” and issued to Alon Brown, Scott Thurlow andSteven Wells, which patents are hereby incorporated herein by referencefor their teachings.

The process P1 then ends.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the process P1 is carried outvia the processor 15. In one embodiment, at least a portion of theprocess P1 is carried out via the computer 12. In one embodiment, atleast a portion of the process P1 is carried out via a server orexchange server.

For example, in the query task S1, one of the sensors 17 may indicatethat “CYAN TONER IS LOW.” Then, during a first pass, the query task S4may determine that “MAGENTA TONER IS AT OR NEAR LOW THRESHOLD.” Thisfacilitates replacement of both the cyan toner cartridge and the magentatoner cartridge via a single order, by noting that the next tonercartridge that is likely to fail is the magenta cartridge. This providessavings in labor in shipping the cartridges and in replacing thecartridges, and also reduces the amount of time that the hard copyoutput engine 14 is inoperable due to being serviced.

Additionally, in another iteration of the query task S4 prior toexecution of the step S6, another one of the sensors 17 may provide anindication that the “FUSER IS AT OR NEAR LOW THRESHOLD.” In thisinstance, the electronic message may include this information, providingadditional labor and cost savings in filling the order, shipping theorder and in the amount of time that one or more of the hard copyengines 14 is inoperable due to being serviced.

The protection sought is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments,which are given by way of example only, but instead is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method performed by a first hard copy output engine including a processor, the method comprising: detecting a first status of a portion of the first hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the first hard copy output engine; receiving a second status detected by a separate, second hard copy output engine; the first hard copy output engine processor composing an electronic message including both the detected first and second status; the first hard copy output engine processor transmitting the electronic message over a network; and automatically scheduling a preventative maintenance appointment by contacting a service technician with the electronic message.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a first status includes detecting a toner low or toner out status.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a first status includes detecting a future need for preventative maintenance to be performed on components of the first hard copy output engine.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein composing an electronic message includes composing the electronic message to include information chosen from a list consisting of: percentage of remaining consumable, to whom assigned, blind carbon copy to, copy to, company addressed to, expected completion date, defer until, due date, duration, event address, expiration date, follow-up flag, importance, owner, priority, return receipt request status, remind beforehand, reminder, reminder override default, required attendee list, resources, sensitivity, date sent, start date, addressee, tracking status, consumables order list, maintenance items, malfunction and preventative maintenance items.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a first status includes detecting a first status from a list of status items consisting of: toner out, toner low, preventative maintenance alerts, including cleaning or replacement of component parts, consumables orders and low or “out of” status for other consumables or need for other maintenance items.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second hard copy output engines are chosen from a group consisting of: facsimile machines, photocopiers and printers.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the electronic message comprises transmitting an electronic message including a consumable order.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein composing an electronic message comprises adding the first and second status to a notification list.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting a future need for preventative maintenance comprises logging hours of operation to determine when preventative maintenance on components of the first hard copy output engine is appropriate.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting a future need for preventative maintenance comprises logging the number of pages handled to determine when preventative maintenance on components of the first hard copy output engine is appropriate.
 11. A first hard copy output engine comprising a processor and a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein to cause the processor to: detect a first status of a portion of the first hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the first hard copy output engine; receive a second status detected by a separate, second hard copy output engine; compose an electronic message, the message including both the detected first and second status; transmit the electronic message over a network; and automatically scheduling preventative maintenance appointments by contacting a service technician with the electronic message after a predefined period of time lapses.
 12. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect a first status includes computer readable code configured to cause the processor to detect a toner low or toner out status.
 13. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect a first status includes computer readable code configured to cause the processor to detect a future need for preventative maintenance to be performed on components of the first hard copy output engine.
 14. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to compose an electronic message includes computer readable code configured to cause the processor to compose the electronic message to include information chosen from a list consisting of: percentage of remaining consumable, to whom assigned, blind carbon copy to, copy to, company addressed to, expected completion date, defer until, due date, duration, event address, expiration date, follow-up flag, importance, owner, priority, return receipt request status, remind beforehand, reminder, reminder override default, required attendee list, resources, sensitivity, date sent, start date, addressee, tracking status, consumables order list, maintenance items, malfunction and preventative maintenance items.
 15. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect a first status includes computer readable codeconfigured to cause the processor to detect a status chosen from a list of status items consisting of: toner out, toner low, preventative maintenance alerts, including cleaning or replacement of component parts, consumables orders and low or “out of” status for other consumables or need for other maintenance items.
 16. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect a first status comprises computer readable code configured to cause the processor to detect a status of a hard copy output engine chosen from a group consisting of: facsimile machines, photocopiers and printers.
 17. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to transmit comprises computer readable code configured to cause the processor to transmit an electronic message including a consumable order.
 18. The first hard copy output engine of claim 11, wherein the computer readable code is configured to cause a processor to compose an electronic message is configured to cause the processor add the first and second status to a notification list.
 19. The first hard copy output engine of claim 13, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect a future need for preventative maintenance is configured to cause the processor to log hours of operation to determine when preventative maintenance on components of the first hard copy output engine is appropriate.
 20. The first hard copy output engine of claim 13, wherein the computer readable code configured to cause a processor to detect a future need for preventative maintenance is configured to cause the processor to log the number of pages handled to determine when preventative maintenance on components of the first hard copy output engine is appropriate.
 21. A first hard copy output engine, the first the hard copy output engine comprising: a sensor coupled to a portion of the first hard copy output engine, the sensor being configured to provide a first status of the portion; and a processor coupled to the first sensor and configured to: detect the first status; receive a second status detected by a separate, second hard copy output engine; compose an electronic message, the message including both the detected first and second status; transmit the electronic message over a network; and automatically scheduling a preventative maintenance appointment by contacting a service technician with the electronic message.
 22. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor configured to detect the first status includes a processor configured to detect a toner low or toner out status.
 23. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor configured to detect a first status includes a processor configured to detect a future need for preventative maintenance to be performed on components of the first hard copy output engine.
 24. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor configured to compose an electronic message includes a processor configured to compose the electronic message to include information chosen from a list consisting of: percentage of remaining consumable, to whom assigned, blind carbon copy to, copy to, company addressed to, expected completion date, defer until, due date, duration, event address, expiration date, follow-up flag, importance, owner, priority, return receipt request status, remind beforehand, reminder, reminder override default, required attendee list, resources, sensitivity, date sent, start date, addressee, tracking status, consumables order list, maintenance items, malfunction and preventative maintenance items.
 25. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor configured to detect a first status includes a processor configured to detect a status chosen from a list of status items consisting of: toner out, toner low, preventative maintenance alerts, including cleaning or replacement of component parts, consumables orders and low or “out of” status for other consumables or need for other maintenance items.
 26. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor configured to detect a first status comprises a processor configured to detect a first and second status of a hard copy output engine chosen from a group consisting of: facsimile machines, photocopiers and printers.
 27. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to cause the processor add the first and second status to a notification list.
 28. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to log hours of operation to determine when preventative maintenance on components of the first hard copy output engine is appropriate.
 29. The first hard copy output engine of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to log the number of pages handled to determine when preventative maintenance on components of the first hard copy output engine is appropriate. 